The “forbidden romance” if you will.There’s a power imbalance between the two sexes in the 18th century and it’s reflected in Pamela and Mr. B’s relationship in the novel. To quote Mr. B himself:This is probably linked to the legal doctrine of “coverture” which purports that a woman’s legal existence is ‘suspended’ during marriage and is ‘consolidated’ into that of her husband and the wife loses almost all the privileges she’d have as a single woman (to own property, keep salary, sign contracts etc). This conversation puts the blame on the victim, not the perpetrator.Pamela believes in the puritan idea that ‘humility’ is a virtue. Pamela’s virtue leads the way towards the forgiveness of those who tried to ruin her. It may also be linked to why women has historically assumed her But the problematic thing about this, is that while the gender difference of ‘man and woman’ in an 18th century relationship is unequal (due to men being considered superior), the class distinction creates even more of a power imbalance. Both Richardson and Fielding are moralist. It was scandalous that a servant should marry her master, someone so above her own class. Pamela is astonished to discover the motives of Mr. B to be completely antithetical to that of a gentleman. In Pamela, Richardson’s lesson through Pamela is to be proud of virtue because, in the end, God will reward it like He rewards her with love and happiness. Actually, Joseph and Pamela as the main characters in the novels, are not different in virtue.
After all, Pamela isn’t the first girl he has sexually pursued, a former servant of his became pregnant and died in childbirth – which Pamela apparently think she deserved because she forfeited her virtue (actually, throughout the book, Pamela is quite a judgemental person – but I digress). In response, another servant insists that Pamela should know her place. Being one of the first – if not the first – novel told entirely through fictional letters made it very new and exciting narrative concept at the time.“Pamela” is widely considered one of the first and most influential romance novels in the english language. Some of Mr. B’s friends even jokes that all wives should call their husband’s ‘master’.Pamela herself, in the first few pages of the book, acknowledges that the class distinction between her and Mr. B should make their relationship implausible. They have the same good moral, manners, and personalities. Pamela by Samuel Richardson brings up a question that comes up a lot in pre-1800 literature, which is the concept of virtue. No wonder a lot of people find this story strikingly similar to the ‘Stockholm Syndrome’ condition.As a modern reader, you can’t shake off the uncomfortable fact that Samuel Richardson barely acknowledges that Mr. B is a for the majority of the book a sexual predator and Like I mentioned, this epistolary novel is one of the first of its kind and caused quite a sensation when it was first released. She’s emotionally fragile, hysterical and faints under stressful circumstances.
Also, I was/am kind of intimidated by 18th century literature as I’m not an avid reader by any means. Fielding who at first disapproves with Richardson's concept in Pamela, as a matter of fact, does not present a different concept of virtue from Richardson's. Without putting much effort into thinking, I can think of at least two instances of a woman attempting to protect her virtue: William Shakespeare's Measure for Measure and Horace Walpole's The Castle of Otranto. The depiction of gender and class is so backwards, old-fashioned, degrading and frustrating. But I like the idea of a poor maidservant standing up and talking back to her rich ‘boss’ when he crosses the line – despite the repercussions. Thus, Richardson's concept of virtue is Fielding's concept too. Based on this thing, this thesis is going to discuss the kind of concept Fielding has about virtue which makes him perceives Richardson's concept in Pamela is wrong and the way Fielding uses to show his disagreement towards Pamela. Richardson’s negative portrayal of the immoral, pompous and entitled Mr. B suggests that he might’ve drawn some from the real world of 18th century society. Pamela’s lady-in-waiting dies shortly before the beginning of the story, and the household management is consequently left to her son Mr. B. concept of female virtue being tied TO sexual purity was by no means a new concept to the eighteenth century; in the seventeenth century (originally published in 1673 but here re- printed in an eighteenth-century edition) Milton writes on the subject: After their marriage, Pamela willingly continues to address her husband as “master”. But Pamela isn’t all passive and compliant, because she Curiously, many of the same gender stereotypes we assign to men and women today also dominated the understanding of masculinity and femininity all the way back in the mid 18th century.Mr. The majority of the 18 th century readers’ responses to Pamela leads to many issues which is worth for our modern readers paying attention to, such as gender equality or social hierarchy, and all of these problems, modern Samuel Richardson is saying; this is how young girls should conduct themselves, if you resolve to be pure, innocent, religious and humble like Pamela, everything will end well for you.The marriage between the poor servant Pamela and the wealthy nobleman Mr. B caused quite an uproar in 18th century english society.
This echoes the way many still blames the victim in sexual assault cases today.Women are also accused of being vain, gossipy and obsessed with fashion.
I think this book is indispensable for anyone interested in the exploration of 18th century gender and class.So, am I pro-Pamela or Anti-pamela?
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